CHANGES HEADER, DECK, ADDS JAPAN REACTION
By Islamuddin Sajid and Yasin Gungor
ISLAMABAD (AA) - Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Afghanistan and Japan all strongly condemned Israel's overnight attack on Iran, calling it a violation of international law.
In a statement, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the attacks by the Zionist Israeli regime on a sovereign state are a blatant breach of international law and seriously undermine regional stability.
"Malaysia calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the cycle of violence," it said, adding that Israel’s continued attacks with impunity have severely affected and will continue to affect the security and future stability of the Middle East, bringing the region closer to the brink of a wider conflict.
Separately, Indonesia strongly condemned Israel's military strikes on Iran, saying such escalation and expansion of conflicts are clear violations of international law, demonstrating Tel Aviv's complete disregard for it.
"All parties must exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that could escalate tensions and lead to further instability in the region," said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta.
Jakarta reiterated that Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territory is still the root cause of Middle Eastern conflicts and that establishing an independent State of Palestine within the framework of the two-state solution is the only way to bring peace to the region.
Meanwhile, the Indian Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed deep concern over the ongoing escalation in West Asia and its implications for regional and global peace and stability.
"We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. The ongoing hostilities are to nobody’s benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer," the ministry said in a statement.
In Kabul, the interim Taliban administration of Afghanistan strongly condemned the Israeli attack, calling it a violation of international law.
Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi said in a statement issued by his ministry that "Japan is deeply concerned" over the recent exchanges of attacks in the Middle East, and without mentioning Israel, condemned actions that exacerbate regional tensions and called for maximum restraint from all parties involved.
"Peace and stability in the Middle East region are extremely important to Japan," Takeshi said, emphasizing his country's stake in regional stability.
The foreign minister vowed that the Japanese government will continue diplomatic efforts to prevent further deterioration of the situation while prioritizing the protection of Japanese nationals abroad.
Israel announced early Saturday that its military had carried out "precise strikes" on “military targets” in Iran, as explosions were heard in the capital Tehran.
Israeli army radio said dozens of Israeli aircraft had launched attacks on the capital Tehran, Meshed, and a power station in Karaj.
Later, the military announced that it had completed targeted airstrikes on Iranian military facilities.
The strikes were in response to recent missile attacks by Tehran on Israel.
*Ahmad Adil in New Delhi contributed to this story